When I heard the song "You Raise Me Up" for the first time, I wept. I have to admit that every time I hear it, I cry. The song is a wonderful reminder to me that without Him, I can do nothing, but when I stand on His shoulders, I can do anything. This beautiful song lifts me and fills me with God's love. It's a song of praise to God for all that He does for us if you rest in His arms, He will lift you up.

Performed by three gifted young musicians, a brother and sister brought up in the African heartland, a Tennessee native who had barely set foot outside of his home state, united now as one voice raised in praise to God.

"You Raise Me Up" Written by Brendon Graham/Rolf Lovland Performed by Selah Nicol Sponberg, Todd Smith and Allan Hall

When I am down, and oh my soul, so weary When troubles come and my heart burdened be Then, I am still and wait here in the silence Until you come and sit awhile with me You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be There is no life--no life without it's hunger Each restless heart beats so imperfectly But when you come and I am filled with wonder Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be You raise me up to more than I can be.

What is there about spending a few moments with the Lord that enables someone to walk on stormy seas and keep trying no matter what the trail. God has used different verses of Scripture at different times to keep me going. Today I am reminded of what the apostle Paul advised the early Christians in  2 Corinthians 4:7-9; 16-17:

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

Paul was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked and he endured hardship and pain. And what did he say according to those verses? The power to get through those tough times is "not of ourselves," we are just "earthen vessels." He says that God gives us the power to endure distress and not be crushed, to be troubled with uncertainty and not despair, to suffer mistreatment with the confidence that we are not alone and to be struck down, but get right up again.

Then Paul goes on to encourage, "We do not lose heart, but although our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." He can help you persevere... He can raise you up to more than you can be.